Between working as a beauty editor since 2011 and now working part time at a boutique that sells a multitude of skin care items, I've tried a lot of products on my face. Some find their way into my routine for a couple of nights tops, others join the leagues of my skin care Hall of Fame and get re-purchased.

One such product is Estée Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II. You can call it ANR for short, or as I like to call it, Magic Juice. ANR has been an Estée Lauder bestseller for years: with 25+ patents (and more pending), they've spent a great deal of time fine-tuning and researching the formula to make sure it does what it says. And trust me, it does.

It's an anti-aging serum, but I use it for reasons beyond that. Here's what ANR does for me...

It Heals

I'm not proud of it, but I have problems with skin-picking. Particularly when I was a teenager, I would dig into any hormone-induced breakouts, leaving my skin in a red, bloody mess. Looking at my face now though, you wouldn't be able to tell. I've picked at zits as recently as a month ago, but ANR has erased all evidence of such regrettable events. How? The formula increases cell production while you sleep, a time when skin is also naturally faster at healing.

Everyone's familiar with the way a picked zit scabs over the next day--that's your skin building a protective layer for new skin to grow underneath. ANR makes this protective layer grow faster. Within a few days the scab flakes off with only the faintest hint of discoloration underneath that fades with regular use of the serum. No deep scars, no scary redness. Just smooth on ANR and let it be.

It Brightens

While boosting cell turnover, ANR also evens out skin tone. Dark patches and sun spots are toned down and skin appears even all over. Plus, when you smooth the serum on (after cleansing, before moisturizer), you'll feel hydrated and notice an instant glow. I have insanely dry skin so this is a big deal for me. Sometimes, in the summer and fall, just the serum is enough for me, no moisturizer required.

It Preps

For a long time I had only been using ANR at night, but then I started to hear from a handful of makeup artists that the serum did a great job of prepping the skin when you wake up in the morning. I began massaging a few drops into my skin after waking up and immediately noticed that my face looked brighter, more refined, and well-rested. As a makeup primer, ANR leaves the surface of your skin smooth and hydrated so base products go on flawlessly. Just don't forget to apply your SPF, too.

It Lasts A Really Long Time

A few drops are really all you need with each application, which means one bottle can last you months and months. That means one bottle will give you a long, long period of amazing results. If you're not ready to take the leap, head to an Estée Lauder counter and ask for a sample. I can guarantee you'll see results pretty dang quickly.